Spicy and Aromatic Mala Tang
Homemade Mala Tang Recipe: Rich and Flavorful
Discover the allure of diverse spices! Reviving the vivid memory of Mala Tang first tasted in Sichuan during my college trip to Tibet, I’m sharing a recipe that’s perfectly balanced for Korean palates – spicy, aromatic, and full of flavor. Experience the delightful combination of tingly spice, fresh seafood, and generous ingredients. This easy-to-follow recipe lets you enjoy authentic Mala Tang at home.
Main Ingredients- 1 octopus
- 200g mussels (cleaned)
- 100g shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1/3 can Spam
- 100g baby bok choy
- 100g enoki mushrooms
- 1/4 block firm tofu
Mala Tang Broth Ingredients- 100g Mala paste
- 4 Tbsp cooking oil
- 500mL water
- 100g Mala paste
- 4 Tbsp cooking oil
- 500mL water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
**Tip:** Maple Daniel’s recipes are best viewed with accompanying photos.
Step 2
First, prepare the vegetables. Wash the baby bok choy thoroughly, drain excess water, and then cut it into 2-4 pieces depending on its size. For the enoki mushrooms, trim off the base. Slice the tofu and Spam into approximately 1cm thick pieces.
Step 3
Here’s a tip for choosing your Mala Tang paste. Various types are available in the market; I recommend the paste form, which tends to have fewer solid residues for a cleaner taste. Use about 100g of paste per serving.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the broth. Preheat a pot over high heat for 2 minutes, then add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil. Add 100g of Mala paste and stir-fry over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t burn, similar to how you’d fry black bean paste for Jjajangmyeon. This step significantly deepens the flavor.
Step 5
Pour 500mL of water into the well-fried Mala paste mixture and bring it to a boil to create the broth.
Step 6
Once the broth starts boiling, add all the prepared ingredients to the pot. Generously fill it with baby bok choy, shrimp, mussels, octopus, tofu, Spam, and enoki mushrooms, and let them cook together.
Step 7
Simmer until all ingredients are cooked through, and your delicious Mala Tang is ready! You can serve it like shabu-shabu, or keep it simmering in the pot like a stew. The spicy and tingly broth, combined with the seafood, offers a unique and satisfying flavor profile, distinct from Korean spicy fish stews.
Step 8
Mala Tang is best enjoyed with its rich broth. For a heartier meal, feel free to add ingredients like Korean sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon) or udon noodles according to your preference.
Step 9
Today, I’ve shared a recipe for making Mala Tang, a perfect spicy soup dish. As you can see, it’s quite simple to make at home! Using fresh ingredients and making it yourself allows you to enjoy a generous portion at a much more reasonable price. Enjoy your delicious meal! 🙂
